SYRIANNEWS — broadcast
20260806 100000 UTC
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[00:00:00] to strengthen the sovereignty of their countries into and confine weapons to their a series
[00:00:03] national institutions, which ends of solutions? If I achieve them and reassemble them, I will have solved the big problem. Therefore, the first step in addressing any big problem is to divide and break it down into smaller problems so that you can solve them. This is where engineering literally works. Indeed, sir. I agree with you. I am not an engineer, but I agree with you, because even in psychology, if you apply it, the principle is the same. I have a pile of problems. Instead of falling into depression or despair, why not break these problems down into small components and solve them based on priority? Then reassemble them. Yes, you reassemble them. Look at the scene around us. We have a number of cameras, lights, and wires in this place. They didn't just appear like that. The team has a method for laying the wires first, then connecting the electricity, and then the lights. All these things are related to the importance of focusing on this point. Focusing on this point is important because we live in Syria with a complex and complicated problem. The last line, there's nothing. He's left us with a tangled skein of yarn, poured water on it, then poured other chemicals on it, ran wires through it. Then he threw it in a bucket of trash, then took it out, dried it, and made something. Then he tells you, "Come and untangle this skein of yarn into usable threads." This requires work and patience. It's a very complicated matter, literally and in all fields. Therefore, the work methodology, critical thinking, and applying correct and effective management tools. All of this is important in working to dismantle our problems for which we hope to find solutions, God willing. You left Damascus for America when you were young. You went to university, studied mathematics, and then computer engineering, excelling in it, God willing. You had an active career in America. But why did young Ghassan at that time, with all due respect, decide not to return to Syria? There was no direct pressure on you personally. Why did you make that decision? Well, regarding the decision not to return initially, and the decision to return later, the decision not to return... I won't sell you patriotism or give you theories. It was just being busy with life. I left in '83, and by '96, I had finished my master's in business administration. So it was a continuous journey. I got married early. I left in '83, got married in '84. My wife is with me here, waiting for me after this meeting. Greetings to her. any destabilization or
[00:00:06] disturbance of stability in the region. The completion of these
[00:00:10] paths in the sister capitals ensures their sustainable
[00:00:13] internal stability and, along with the Syrian achievement,
[00:00:16] forms an integrated regional safety net
[00:00:19] and Israel must that protects our region and drives it towards development
[00:00:22] and prosperity. Within this comprehensive vision
[00:00:26] for security, our efforts to consolidate calm are accompanied
[00:00:30] by resolute diplomatic action to stop
[00:00:33] repeated Israeli attacks in our Syrian south.
[00:00:36] We are working steadily to establish stability there
[00:00:40] and we affirm our condemnation and denunciation of any attack
[00:00:43] that affects our land and sovereignty, and we emphasize
[00:00:46] that any aggression will negatively affect the security
[00:00:48] and stability of the entire region. Therefore, we
[00:00:51] renew our call to return
[00:00:53] my grades to the 1974
[00:00:56] That's right. agreement and withdraw to the lines before December 8, 2000.
[00:01:01] We call on the sisterly and friendly countries and the international community to bear
[00:01:05] their responsibilities by enforcing international law and preserving
[00:01:09] My elementary stability in Syria and the region. This
[00:01:12] security stability paves
[00:01:15] by our brothers in the way steadily for the transit and regional connectivity file,
[00:01:18] brothers and as we discussed today accelerating
[00:01:20] They are few. the activation of the Four Seas Committee. with this Geography and history
[00:01:23] Jawlah Al-Hashemi dictate that Syria be the shortest
[00:01:25] and most viable link
[00:01:28] lot of in global trade maps. We are confidently
[00:01:30] pushing towards the completion of the strategic railway link project in partnership
[00:01:34] between Syria, Turkey, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia,
[00:01:38] private school was and Jordan. Syria's role in this path
[00:01:44] it. Current standards of a merchant, and we represents a geographical and economic bridge that effectively translates and enhances its
[00:01:49] was the most prominent role as an active diplomatic bridge in the region. We will build on this positive
[00:01:52] model to activate joint technical committees
[00:01:55] and manage our water resources in a way that
[00:01:58] serves the interests of both peoples. Amidst our joint
[00:02:02] the next development efforts, sensitive regional developments impose themselves,
[00:02:06] specifically the repercussions of the current war and confrontations
[00:02:09] between the United States and Iran. Syria's
[00:02:12] stance stems from active diplomacy to protect our national
[00:02:17] was in his fifties interests and spare
[00:02:18] ISIS threats in the region the horrors of slipping into an open conflict. From this principled
[00:02:22] standpoint, we express our strong condemnation of any
[00:02:25] strikes or attacks targeting the sisterly Arab Gulf states.
[00:02:28] Neutralizing Gulf security from this confrontation is an urgent
[00:02:32] could a person necessity, and the stability of these sisterly states is an integral
[00:02:36] part of the regional security
[00:02:38] system.
[00:02:41] We also call on the countries of the region to enhance security, military, and political coordination
[00:02:45] to protect the interests of all and control
[00:02:47] borders, as Syria suffers from destabilization
[00:02:51] and threats to its borders from armed militias
[00:02:54] that use neighboring borders and carry
[00:02:58] weapons outside the state framework. The Syrian Arab Republic
[00:03:01] and its security
[00:03:03] this information and military institutions are working to confront these threats
[00:03:06] with full resolve to preserve our national security interests
[00:03:09] to describe and protect the safety of I had an opportunity our people. Therefore, we will
[00:03:13] work to intensify human and technical capabilities along
[00:03:20] of thinking that I began a all our borders and in coordination with our neighbors to confront these threats. Our discussions touched upon the return
[00:03:24] of Syrians to their homeland
[00:03:25] Exactly. Therefore, as a top national priority for Damascus. We
[00:03:28] consider the returnees
[00:03:31] Exactly. to be the fundamental building block, and we realize that
[00:03:35] the sustainability of this return requires preparing the developmental
[00:03:40] into our ground and necessary infrastructure such as services, electricity,
[00:03:42] schools, and health. Therefore, we are establishing a practical path
[00:03:46] with the Turkish side to link return projects with early
[00:03:50] recovery programs directly and effectively. I would like
[00:03:54] to emphasize in the end that our common borders, which are the longest
[00:03:57] between us, will remain a path for trade, prosperity, and mutual
[00:04:03] not just
[00:04:31] security. So, dear viewers, we followed
[00:04:35] the joint press conference between Syrian Foreign Minister
[00:04:40] can say Asaad al-Sheibani and his Turkish counterpart, Hakan Fidan. Among
[00:04:44] the most prominent points in this press conference was
[00:04:47] Minister Fidan's
[00:04:50] who was also emphasis that the integration phase in Syria must end quickly
[00:04:54] without obstruction. He also confirmed, "We are working
[00:04:57] to develop and facilitate
[00:04:59] Honestly, where do economic relations between Syria and Turkey
[00:05:02] and increase
[00:05:06] When I started to America, specializing the number of crossings between the two countries." He added, "We are also working to establish a joint
[00:05:11] and Fiqh. Scholars, Syrian-Turkish university within Syrian
[00:05:13] territories." He affirmed that Syria is a country
[00:05:17] that contributes to making peace in the region,
[00:05:20] and its security and stability are a necessity.
[00:05:23] Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan also
[00:05:27] emphasized that the unity of Syrian territories must be protected
[00:05:31] be pressured in this regard. He stated
[00:05:35] that Turkey seeks to raise the level of relations
[00:05:39] with Syria through new projects in various
[00:05:43] sectors. Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan added
[00:05:46] that the Israeli government is working to destroy
[00:05:50] peace and make Gaza without Palestinians.
[00:05:52] And during the speech of Minister
[00:05:56] Asaad al-Sheibani, the Syrian Foreign Minister, the
[00:05:59] Minister said that Damascus and Ankara
[00:06:02] realize that combating terrorism is a cornerstone
[00:06:06] for partnership between the two countries. Al-Sheibani added
[00:06:10] that a united Syria forms the optimal wall
[00:06:13] to protect common borders, and we coordinate our
[00:06:17] steps with Ankara in response to our common
[00:06:19] interests. Minister al-Sheibani added, "We agreed
[00:06:23] to support the efforts and steps led
[00:06:27] Iraq and Lebanon to strengthen the sovereignty
[00:06:30] of their countries and confine weapons within
[00:06:34] their official institutions." Al-Sheibani affirmed, "We
[00:06:37] express our condemnation of any attacks
[00:06:40] targeting the Gulf states, as the stability
[00:06:44] of the Gulf states is a fundamental pillar of the regional
[00:06:47] security system." Al-Sheibani added
[00:06:50] that our common borders with Turkey
[00:06:53] will remain a path for trade, prosperity,
[00:06:56] and mutual security. So, dear viewers, this
[00:07:01] news from the joint press conference between Syrian
[00:07:05] Foreign Minister Asaad al-Sheibani and his
[00:07:08] Turkish counterpart, Hakan Fidan. And now to
[00:07:11] the headlines of our 12:00
[00:07:16] newscast. President Ahmed al-Shara announces
[00:07:19] major development projects for the Eastern region during the opening
[00:07:23] of Deir
[00:07:23] ez-Zor Airport.
[00:07:27] The Security Council discusses
[00:07:30] Iraq and Syria. The United Nations warns
[00:07:34] against the organization exploiting security
[00:07:37] changes.
[00:07:42] Syria's Permanent Representative to the Organization for the Prohibition
[00:07:45] of Chemical Weapons, Muhammad Kattoub, affirms the continued pursuit
[00:07:49] of justice, coinciding with the anniversary of the defunct
[00:07:53] regime's chemical massacre
[00:07:54] in Douma.
[00:08:00] The Syrian General Establishment for Grains confirms that
[00:08:03] the quantities of wheat received exceeded Syria's
[00:08:05] needs, and the Ministry of Agriculture announces the recovery
[00:08:08] of the livestock sector.
[00:08:18] We have reached the end of this bulletin, dear viewers.
[00:08:21] Thank you for your kind
[00:09:14] Heitto, welcome to Al-Hikaya Al-Souria Podcast.
[00:09:17] Welcome, Professor Muhammad. Welcome. 42 years away
[00:09:21] from Syria, away from Damascus specifically. Son of Damascus, of course,
[00:09:25] son of Rukneddine, and you returned immediately after liberation.
[00:09:28] That's right. Very quickly. This is by the grace of Allah Almighty
[00:09:32] upon us. It was with great longing.
[00:09:36] It was a dream that came true, one of the most beautiful
[00:09:39] moments of life. To wish for
[00:09:42] something, and your thoughts
[00:09:46] and your concerns reach
[00:09:50] you that what you are thinking
[00:09:53] of has become a dream.
[00:09:56] It may come true, but Allah has been
[00:10:00] very generous to us in
[00:10:03] giving us this opportunity to return
[00:10:07] to our country. Praise be to Allah. Praise be to Allah.
[00:10:10] You left Damascus in 19
[00:10:16] in mathematics and technology. Correct.
[00:10:18] You have a well-known professional activity.
[00:10:22] When the Syrian revolution started, you also quickly
[00:10:26] engaged in revolutionary activity. In
[00:10:28] 2013, you were tasked with forming the first interim government
[00:10:32] in Syria, but you resigned after a short
[00:10:36] period. You are considered a witness to an important
[00:10:40] period related to the opposition's political activity against
[00:10:42] the defunct Assad regime. And then in 2013,
[00:10:46] in the same year you resigned, you established the Syrian Forum
[00:10:49] Center, from which several social, relief,
[00:10:52] and similar
[00:10:55] activities and intellectual activities
[00:10:58] emerged. After liberation, you returned quickly to Syria. This
[00:11:02] is a brief introduction, but we want to hear
[00:11:05] from you now about the story from the beginning,
[00:11:09] about the environment you were born in, your upbringing,
[00:11:12] your education before immigrating to America.
[00:11:15] I am a son of Damascus, from a Damascene family.
[00:11:19] We are of Kurdish origin. I was born in the Rukneddine neighborhood
[00:11:23] and then my father and mother moved
[00:11:26] to the Mezzeh area.
[00:11:30] My mother, may Allah have mercy
[00:11:34] on her, was illiterate.
[00:11:38] But she raised five
[00:11:43] sisters, we are five brothers
[00:11:46] and three sisters, and all of us
[00:11:50] are educated, by the grace of Allah.
[00:11:52] My father's education stopped at the fourth grade,
[00:11:55] but he ran a sock
[00:11:58] factory in Damascus. Amazing, yes. This is the son
[00:12:02] of a merchant. We are, indeed, the children
[00:12:07] are proud of this history. My father,
[00:12:10] may Allah have mercy
[00:12:14] on him, was a self-made
[00:12:15] man in every
[00:12:18] sense of the word. If there is anything I am
[00:12:21] proud of, it is being the son
[00:12:25] of a family that was poor and achieved
[00:12:29] something great. My father passed away
[00:12:33] when I was young, when I was eight
[00:12:36] years old.
[00:12:39] I think he
[00:12:42] at the time. But when
[00:12:45] you look back at what he accomplished
[00:12:49] in this short life,
[00:12:51] you truly have to take your hat off to him.
[00:12:55] How
[00:12:57] with such limited education achieve
[00:12:59] so much in
[00:13:03] a short period? A commercial store in the heart
[00:13:06] of Damascus, several
[00:13:07] factories...
[00:13:11] Praise be to God. He literally started from scratch.
[00:13:15] And I think, as my mother, may God have
[00:13:18] mercy on her, told me, they were
[00:13:21] probably below zero for a period of their
[00:13:25] lives. May God have mercy on them all. We ask
[00:13:28] God to accept them and bless them.
[00:13:31] There are no words
[00:13:34] the kindness they bestowed upon us and
[00:13:38] how they raised us when we were young.
[00:13:41] And my mother
[00:13:42] struggled with us.
[00:13:45] May God bless your father, you were eight
[00:13:48] years old. I saw you were very emotional
[00:13:52] when talking about your father, even though
[00:13:55] you only lived with him for a few
[00:13:59] years, a period when a child can remember
[00:14:03] his father. But it's clear there was an admiration
[00:14:07] for my father's personality.
[00:14:10] I see it in the words
[00:14:14] of my older siblings,
[00:14:17] may Allah have mercy on him. I see it in
[00:14:20] the words of his friends
[00:14:23] and companions. Even my older brother
[00:14:27] once described him to me, saying
[00:14:30] that our father's sustenance was pure.
[00:14:34] And my older brother,
[00:14:36] may Allah protect him, lived closely
[00:14:40] with my father and knew him
[00:14:44] well. So I
[00:14:46] didn't live
[00:14:48] with my father, but I admire
[00:14:51] his personality,
[00:14:54] and I always
[00:14:58] wonder how he endured
[00:15:01] and overcame these difficulties in
[00:15:04] life, and how he managed
[00:15:08] to achieve what he
[00:15:12] was able to achieve in a short period
[00:15:15] and build this credibility
[00:15:19] in his community and in the market.
[00:15:24] you find this today? This
[00:15:27] is a source of admiration, and he
[00:15:30] was a school in himself. May
[00:15:33] Allah have mercy on him. We,
[00:15:37] as his children, are proud of him,
[00:15:41] but we have a deterrent to protect
[00:15:44] his reputation. We still live in his
[00:15:48] shadow, by the grace of Allah Almighty.
[00:15:51] He honored us
[00:15:53] by having
[00:15:56] my father, Al-Khalil, may Allah have
[00:15:59] mercy on him, and my mother,
[00:16:03] Mrs. Suad, Umm Shaker, may Allah have mercy
[00:16:07] on them. You mentioned that your mother
[00:16:10] did not pursue formal education, and
[00:16:14] your father dropped out of school
[00:16:16] at an early age. Yet, they raised
[00:16:19] eight educated children, each with
[00:16:23] their degrees. How did Professor Ghassan
[00:16:26] develop? Were you more inclined towards mathematics
[00:16:29] early on, or why did you choose
[00:16:33] mathematics later? You've brought up
[00:16:35] a topic that
[00:16:39] might open doors for discussion.
[00:16:42] I studied in public schools in Damascus.
[00:16:46] school was Mustafa Sadeq Al-Rifa'i in Mezzeh,
[00:16:50] and my middle
[00:16:53] and high school was between Azz
[00:16:56] Eddin Al-Tanukhi in Mezzeh and
[00:17:00] in the Tajhiz area. I completed
[00:17:04] my baccalaureate in Sa'ada High School, like
[00:17:08] many Syrians.
[00:17:11] These were public schools. The only
[00:17:16] there, but we weren't really interested in
[00:17:22] at home, interest in education
[00:17:24] is very important, as is interest
[00:17:28] in work. We were raised at
[00:17:32] home that school time is for school,
[00:17:35] and free time is for going
[00:17:39] to work in my father's business.
[00:17:42] We would go to the shop
[00:17:45] or to the factory or one of the
[00:17:48] factories. This was our life. This
[00:17:52] gave us an opportunity, frankly,
[00:17:56] that might have seemed difficult at the time,
[00:17:59] and might have seemed harsh.
[00:18:02] Yes, but frankly, it gave us
[00:18:06] an opportunity that not many
[00:18:09] get: to learn from life at
[00:18:13] an early age. That's how we
[00:18:15] grew up. But
[00:18:17] in the 1980s,
[00:18:21] the situation was bad politically,
[00:18:23] with restrictions on people.
[00:18:26] My brother, Ayman, a civil engineering
[00:18:30] student, was arrested and imprisoned for
[00:18:33] 15 years in Tadmur.
[00:18:37] Previously,
[00:18:39] my older brother had traveled, and
[00:18:44] to go to America at that
[00:18:47] time. I received an acceptance, and
[00:18:50] so
[00:18:54] new path.
[00:18:55] Your question
[00:18:59] about mathematics is intriguing.
[00:19:02] You choose where to place it
[00:19:05] in this conversation.
[00:19:09] Here, I want to pay a great tribute to
[00:19:12] every male and female teacher, so
[00:19:16] that my words are not misunderstood.
[00:19:19] When I graduated from the scientific
[00:19:23] baccalaureate, and this certificate will
[00:19:27] be published, I was weak in
[00:19:30] mathematics. We're talking about graduating
[00:19:33] from high school weak in math,
[00:19:36] but I'm getting to that point.
[00:19:40] It's very important. I was weak in
[00:19:43] math. I went to America
[00:19:46] convinced that I could achieve
[00:19:50] more and I had opportunities
[00:19:53] to study. So we arrived in
[00:19:57] America, and we shouldn't waste
[00:19:59] time. We should
[00:20:02] study. We Syrians, when we go
[00:20:06] abroad, either study engineering or
[00:20:09] medicine. These are the
[00:20:13] choices that we
[00:20:17] we were programmed
[00:20:20] for. Especially at that time,
[00:20:24] it was either engineering or
[00:20:27] medicine, otherwise, you had a problem
[00:20:30] with your programming.
[00:20:33] Of course, I say this jokingly, but there is
[00:20:38] some truth to it.
[00:20:44] studying in America, I found that
[00:20:47] I could not continue even
[00:20:50] in engineering without mathematics.
[00:20:54] So I took this subject
[00:20:57] and said to myself, "It's
[00:20:59] shameful if I don't master
[00:21:02] it." It's
[00:21:03] unthinkable that
[00:21:06] we would go through all
[00:21:09] this and not master the subject.
[00:21:13] By the grace of Allah, in
[00:21:16] addition to my computer engineering
[00:21:27] degree, I have a degree
[00:21:31] in mathematics. The funny
[00:21:34] thing is that
[00:21:36] my grades in
[00:21:39] mathematics are better than
[00:21:43] in computer engineering. Imagine
[00:21:47] that.
[00:21:52] This is what I always remember,
[00:21:56] and it's a rare opportunity
[00:22:00] to stand before a
[00:22:03] seasoned, educated
[00:22:06] teacher.
[00:22:10] To cultivate a generation that
[00:22:13] makes a difference in the future.
[00:22:15] Excuse me,
[00:22:18] what is the difference you
[00:22:22] saw in America regarding mathematics?
[00:22:25] The teacher's style, or what
[00:22:28] exactly? I think it's several
[00:22:31] factors.
[00:22:32] One of them
[00:22:35] is the curricula themselves. The
[00:22:38] curricula are concerned,
[00:22:41] especially in mathematics,
[00:22:44] with solidifying the understanding
[00:22:48] of the material before moving on to
[00:22:52] stage. You know, mathematics
[00:22:55] is, when you understand
[00:22:59] its essence, it is
[00:23:02] what follows it. Therefore,
[00:23:06] the method of teaching the subject,
[00:23:09] I believe, plays a role.
[00:23:12] Being in a university with
[00:23:16] specialized teachers who understand
[00:23:21] the subject correctly and connect
[00:23:24] this subject to life.
[00:23:27] The practical application plays
[00:23:30] a big role in your love
[00:23:34] and increasing passion for this
[00:23:37] subject and your attachment to
[00:23:40] it. He teaches you the subject
[00:23:44] and shows you its effect
[00:23:48] in life, where you will use
[00:23:53] and this way of thinking. And
[00:23:56] sometimes he tells you that
[00:23:59] this subject is only made
[00:24:03] to provide you with a
[00:24:06] specific way
[00:24:10] you will need in the future.
[00:24:15] when people talk about
[00:24:19] critical thinking,
[00:24:24] which is very necessary to introduce
[00:24:30] lives, by always asking,
[00:24:32] "What
[00:24:34] if?" That "what
[00:24:36] if" is terrible.
[00:24:40] Yes, this critical thinking,
[00:24:44] honestly, in the teaching
[00:24:47] methods I witnessed, is
[00:24:50] present in all subjects,
[00:24:53] mathematics. It's in all subjects.
[00:24:57] Because the idea is to help
[00:25:00] you think
[00:25:04] about finding and creating
[00:25:07] solutions. Engineering students
[00:25:10] are taught that their job
[00:25:14] is to improve people's lives
[00:25:18] by innovating new solutions.
[00:25:22] So it's a way of
[00:25:25] thinking, rather than just
[00:25:29] a subject. It's a way
[00:25:31] of thinking, without a doubt.
[00:25:35] I had a podcast guest
[00:25:40] an engineer, Dr. Atef.
[00:25:42] Greetings to the head of
[00:25:46] the Publishers Union. He was insistent
[00:25:49] on a vision, which is applying
[00:25:52] engineering thinking in all intellectual
[00:25:55] and scientific fields, including Sharia
[00:26:01] he says, must think in an
[00:26:05] engineering way. That's right.
[00:26:08] How do you reach
[00:26:10] a point where
[00:26:12] you have knowledge, you
[00:26:16] have an idea,
[00:26:18] and this idea holds
[00:26:22] salvation? How do you now
[00:26:25] engineer ways to deliver
[00:26:29] it to the largest possible
[00:26:32] number of people and recipients
[00:26:36] of this idea? Because if you
[00:26:39] have an idea, you
[00:26:41] have a responsibility, don't you? And
[00:26:45] it contains salvation.
[00:26:49] You are responsible
[00:26:50] before God
[00:26:54] Almighty to deliver it to people.
[00:26:58] Our job as engineers
[00:27:01] is to deliver this idea to
[00:27:05] as many people as possible. And
[00:27:09] you always focus on
[00:27:12] the engineering aspect. Engineers
[00:27:16] have this quality.
[00:27:19] You agree
[00:27:22] perspective? They always say
[00:27:25] that it's
[00:27:28] not... A people call
[00:27:32] me an engineer.
[00:27:36] Honestly, I am interested
[00:27:39] in knowing through my methodological
[00:27:43] way of thinking. I
[00:27:47] am interested in knowing
[00:27:50] about the administrative
[00:27:54] capabilities to produce
[00:27:58] complex, intricate
[00:28:01] problem and break it down